Knitted fabric



July 29, 1941.

v. LOMBARDI mfuu July 29 1941- f v. LOMBARDI l 2,250,588

KNITTED FABRIC Filed June 23, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 indicated in the claims,

tember 17. 1938.

Patented July 29, 1941 r A xNI'rTED FABRIC vln'eent Inmbardi, aardenlcity, N. Y., assignee te Lombardi Knitting Machine C o., Inc., New

York, N. Y., a 'corporation of NewYork Application June as, i939, serial No. 280,705

7 claims. (ci. sis-'201) Thisinvention relates to knitted fabric,

more particularly to design fabrics.' y An object of the invention is the provision of and knitted fabric ofxsuch character that unusual and distinctive design effects may be secured.'

Another object of the invention is the provision of knitted fabrics whichA will have a particularly attractiveappearance from a variety of standpoints.

Other objects of the invention will in partbe obvious and will in'pa'rt appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises-an article of manufacture possessing the features. properties, and the relation of elements whichwill b'e exemplified in the articles hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be For a fuller understanding of objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed 'descriptionf taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which; a Y

' Figure 1 is a'somewhat diagrammatic rear view of a portion of one form offabric embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a reduced scale view illustrating the appearance of the front of a partly overlapping portion of the fabric of Fis. 1;- Fig. 3 is ay reduced scale view illustrating the appearance 'of the rear of a partly overlapping portion ofthe fabric ofFig. 1;' Fig. 4 isa view similarto'Fig.' -1 showing a modified form of fabric; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a further `modiiication;

Fig. 6 isla similar view of another forni of fabric embodying the invention and shown in the process` of formation; ig. 'iis 'a diagrammatic view of fabric of 6;

" Pig. 8 is a larger scale, more detailed. view of lthe nature and I' as the front of the fabric is utilized as the ex' posed portion of a garment or other article, and in other cases it is desirable to provide design fabrics wherein what is commonly 'known as'the rear" of the fabric is utilized as the exposed portion of a garment or other article. and while many fabrics having attractive designs on either the front or the rear of the fabric have been provided; therev are. many instances in which it.

is'desirable to'have a fabric wherein attractive designs appear on both sides of the fabric, so

that.' either side may be utilized as the face of a garment, and so that a fabricmay be turned over informing different portions of a garment without detracting from its attractiveness, and

alsogso that garments or other articles wherein both sides are occasionally or commonly 'exposedv may present an attractive appearance regardless ofwhich'sideis exposed. Particular attractivel Vness can often be obtained in this mannerwhen the design appearing on one side carries outthe 'samegeneral motif as the designlappearing .on

the other side butis different in specinc character. Such fabrics, moreover, are adapted for use in situations where it is now common practice to use a double fabric for the'purpose under cony' i n sideratiOn, and, when so-used', have the advanvtages of lightness in weight, .unity of construction.and economy of production. I Moreover, de-

sign portions having a distinctly outlined contour, and a less distinctly stressed-but nevertheless significant-center, are. highly desirable in knitted fabrics.

design portions having a compactness-and often a bnlkiness-which contrasts with the body of the fabric are desirable for many uses.

Itis also desirable in mauy instan the portion of the fabric outlinedby dot-anddash' lines inFig. 7:

Fig. 9 is asomewhat diagrammatic front view l I of fabric embodying the invention incertain of its aspects; and l Pig. 1 0 is a similar viewf 'Illia application is acontinuation in of" the co-pending applications of Vincent Lombardi. Serial No, 135.635, iiledApril 8,-193'l,jnow Pat- 2.11l9,793, and Serial No. 23,4i)8, led Sepwhile incertain enses it is leal-atie te prpvide l design fabrics wherein what is commonly known 50 i view, the 'present invention contemplates theprimY Furthermore, the provision of portions y* having a solidity of denim, and in that be provided design effects atcertain pointsor portions, and that these `be connected by yarn portions which extend on a particular side-of I the fabric ,where they can be utilised lto carry' out the design, or can -be readily treated, or even eliminated ii desired.' It is 'moreover linear delilnew 1 With the forel'oinl-'and vother considerations -in 'vision 'of various novel types of fabric embodying' features satisfyins all or some of the foregoing needs.' certain -ofsuch forms of fabric being par. 'ticulsrlyexemplinea desirable anteceden; liepr'nvid ed by warp yarn which iscaugbt intothe fabric particularlyiirmlmblltlwhich nevertheless give a body yarns, employed, is ordinarily of a diiferentl color or of other different character, and may be composed of any of a Wide variety of materials including special elastic yarns such as those known as Lastexf In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, there is provided a form of Y fabric comprising body yarn 2 knitted substantially in the jersey fashion to form a. piece of fabric, the portion of which illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises courses |8-36 and needle Wales 2SC-26|; the intervening sinker Wales being unnumbered. Itis to be noted in this connection that references Vto Wales herein are intended to designate needle Wales except Where otherwise designated or indicated by the context.` The body yarn 2 extends continuously coursewise of the fabric. In courses |123 there is provided supplemental body yarn 3, which likewise extends continuously coursewise thruout the fabric, but which, at least in the portion of the fabric illustrated, is unknitted, but is caught into the fabric, being, in the present instance, laid-in in such fashion as to be caught under the sinker loops.

In this connection it is to be noted that When a yarn is laid into the fabric by being caught under the sinker loops, it may bemade to extend under various portions of the sinker loops 'depending upon the looseness or tightness of the yarn laid-in and other factors, and that it may be so laid-in that it extends down under one sinker loop and up under another and then down y under the next and up under the next, or that it may be lloated over certain wales so as to be caught in various spaced Wales .as-desired; and that, except as may be defined by the appended claims, the invention is notlimited to any particular manner of laying-in a yarn or of other- Wise catching it into the fabric Without knitting.

In additionA to the body yarn which forms the ground fabric, there is provided one or more Wale 256 of course |1'tolform the beginning of the design portion B. In each of courses .I8 and 22 it is knitted in Wales 255 and 251, in each of courses I9 and2| in Wales 254 and' 258, and in course 20 lin Wales 253 and 258. In course 23 and 22 it extends under the sinker loops at each side oi Wale 256, in course 2| it extends under the sinker loops at each Aside of Wale 255 and at each side of Wale 251.

As Will be appreciated, yarn may be otherwise arranged` in accordance with this feature of the invention. In area C' the design is more open vertically. Here the yarn'is knitted in Wales 253 and' 259 in course 25, extending at the rear of the fabric from the latter point to the former point, and being caught under the sinker loops at each side of Wales 251 and 255. Instead of being knitted in course 26, however, it extends downwardly from the loop in Wale 253 of course 25 to be knitted in Wale 252 in course 21, and thence extends at the rear of the fabric to the right, being caught under the sinker loops at each side of Wales 254, 256 and 258 whereupon it is again knitted in Wale 268. Thence it extends downwardly across course 28 to be knitted in Wale 26| of course 29, and thence extends to the left, being caught under the sinker loops at each side of Wales 260, 258, 256, 254, and 252.

In the area D there is provided a design portion which continues the design portion C, but wherein the yarn 4 is less tightly caught-in in its laid-in portion, such a type of catching-in of the design yarn being particularly advantageous when the design yarn is particularly heavy, as compared to the body yarn. In th portion D the yarn 4 is knitted in Wale 250 in courses 3|, 33, and 35, and in Wale 26| in the same courses.

`In course 3| the laid-in portion of the yarn is caught under the sinker loops in the sinker Wales additional yarns which in the present instance are Warp yarns, and are desirably of a different color and/or character than the body yarns. One such yarn is exempliiied at 4. If the ground yarns 2- and 3 are light-Weight White yarns, or White and blue yarns respectively, the yarn 4 may be a heavy red yarn. This yarn is so embodied in the fabric as to provide design portions,

a part of one design portion being shown at A, and other design portions being shown at B, C, and D. In these design portions, the yarn 4 extends back-and-forth over a limited area at one side (the rear) of the fabric and is knitted in this point it extends vertically at 5 at the rear of the fabric in the present instance, across courses I3, |4, l5, and I5, and is then knitted lin at the left of needle Wale 253, at the right of needle Wale 254, at the left of -needle wale 251 and at the right of needle Wale 258-.4 In course 33 it is laid under -the sinker loops at the left of Wale 25|, at the right of Wale 252, at the left of Wale 255, at the right of Wale 255, at the left of Wale 259, andat the right of Wale 260. In course 35, it is laid-in in an even looser fashion horizontally, being caught under-the sinker loop at the left of Wale 254 and under the sinker loop at the right of Wale 251.

'I'he yarn 4 thus extends back-and-forth and is generally at one side (the rear) of the bodyfabric formed by the body yarn 2', and is caught into the fabric Without knitting intermediate the edges of the design portion at which it is knitted. Itis to be observed that, in the present instance. the body yarn 2 is unknitted at the points Where the yarn 4 is knitted. For example, in course I8 the knitting of the yarn 2 is omitted in Wales 255 and 251, the yarn 2 extending laterally from Wale 254 to Wale 258 and from Wale 256 to Wal 258, as indicated at 1 and 8, respectively.

Vertically extending portions, such as those at 5 and 6, may be left in place or cut away, as desired.

.'Ihis type of embodiment of a Warp or other design yarn in a fabric results in the provision of a'rever'sible fabric wherein there is a design of one character on the front of the fabric, as indicated at A' and B' in Eig. 2; and a design in garments, scarves, and other articles whichy may show from `both sides during use. It` is to be noted that the designs at A' and B comprise the loops :r at the edges of the design portion, and, in the present instance, alsocomprise points indicated at y' at the interior of the design Where the heavy yarn 4 shows at the front of the fabric as it passes under thesinker loops.

It will be appreciated that the design or other i additional yarn may extend back-and-forth in a variety of other manners 'and may be caught into the fabric in a variety of other Ways. Certain of these variations are exemplied in Fig.- 4. One feature involved in the provisions of additional yarn which extends back-and-forth and Wherein-a conformation extending in one direction is Y caught into the fabric in the same coursev of knitting as a conformation extending in the other direction. Inthe form of fabricv exemplifled, the ground fabric comprises a body yarn 4 4 (which may be light-Weight white yarn), and which is knitted Substantially ln the jersey fashion, as exemplined, to provide a piecev of fabric including courses af-r and Wales. 284-285. A

Warp yarn 45 (which may be heavy red yarn) is incorporated in the fabric, as duringib formation, to provide design areas E, F, and G. As will be seen, the yarn 45 extends vertically at 48, atthe rear of the fabric in the. present instance, past courses a and l)4 and is knitted to form a loop 41 in Wale 218. In the present instance, this loop 41. instead of replacing a. loop of the body yarn 44 as in Fig. l, is provided between the loops of body yarn in courses c and d in Wale '218. From the loop 41, the yarn 45 extends, at the rear of the fabric, downwardly and slightly to the right of Fig. 4, and then turns to the left Where itis caught into the fabric in course d under the Wale 218 and under the sinker loop at the'left of Wale 218. It is knitted yto forr'n va loop A(in Wale 218) at this point, after whichr it is looped i11-4 wale 218, atthe completion of the design portion E. Each of the loops of the yam-45, are, vas will" 'be noted, intermediate loops of the body yarn 44.v

` From the loop'inwale 218 above course g, the yarn 45extends downwardly across `the rear o f the fabric, in the present instance-to. Wale 288 where itis again looped betweencourses j and k of the body yarn 44. Thence it repeats the general arrangement in'portion E to provide an adl ditional design portion F. Itis to be noted that in the portion F, however, the yarn 45 is caughtin adjacentsinker Wales in its downward undulations, but is, in general, floated over three Wales in its upward undulations. For example, in its leftward conformation in Vcourse i'after it extends under the sinker loop at the leftv of Wale' 288, where it has been knitted between .the-loops:

of the yarn 44 in courses :i and 1c, it ls caught under the sinker loops at each side of Wale 218,

but is floated over Wales 218-211 and over Wales 215.213; and in its rlghtward conformation incourse y' after it is extended under the sinker loop to the right of Wale 212from the point where it is knitted in Wale 212, it is caught under the sinker loops at each side-of each of the wales 214 and 218 but is floated over Wales 215-211.

vSimilarly it is floated over three wales between and m, being knitted at the edges in- Wales 218 and 282, wales 288 and 284, and Wales 288 and right across course n. from the point wherein it l sinker loops at the left of Wale 211, and continues to the left, being caught under .the sinker loop at the right of the Wale k215. It is knitted to form a-loop 48' in Wale 214 between the loops of the yarn44 in courses d and e, and thence extends to the right in course d, being caught under the sinker loop at the right of Wale 214, under sinker loops at each side of Wale 218, thence underthe sinker loop at the left of Wale 218, and then is knitted to form a loop 48' in Wale 218between the loops of Wale 44 in courses d and e. Thence it extends downwardly and slightly to the right, and then, extending to the left lin course e,is caught under the sinker loops at the left of *Wale 218, and at each side of each of Wales v211 `and 215," and at the right of wale 218. -Then it is looped in Wale 212, and then extends to the-rlght- 'and at the left of Wale 288. when it is again looped in Wale 288. Thereafter it extends to the left in course f under the sinker loop atthe left of Wale 219, under the sinker loop at each side of waler211, and under the sinker loop at the right of Wale 215; whereupon it is again looped -(in Wale 214) and extends to the right in course j, being caught under the sinker loop at the right 284., respectively. By floating it in this manner, less abrupt undulations are provided.

The yarn 45 extends downwardly and to the is caught under the sinker `loop at .the right of Wale 288 in course m. It is knitted between the loops in courses o and p in wales 288 and. 288,

and is, in general, caught'. under Aspaced Asinker loops betweenthese points, being caught, in the present instance, `.Inder the same sinker loop courses q and r. The yarn 45 is also similarly knitted in Wale 285. In its forward and return conformations, it is caught under spaced sinker loops, but'the sinker loops in this instance are different ones, tho the undulations are similarly rather than oppositely disposed. As Willbe seen,

the leftward conformation extends under the sinker loops in course q at the rightof wales 218, 212288, and 255, among others, and its rightward conformation extends under the sinker loops at the right' of' Wales 288, 288, 218, 215, etc. In the present instance, the conformations of the yarn in and near courses o and q form a design portion G. It will be apparent that by means of such 'arrangements a wid variety of attractive effects may b e secured in individual or .various design portions.

In Fig. 5 `there is shown a form of :fabric providing design portions H and Iv each generally similar to thedesign portion E of Fig. 4, but conof Wale 214,' under sinker loops at each side of the 75 nected by a vertical extent of Warp yarnwhich` extends on`the front of the fabric rather than on the rear thereof, and further differing theref from in that at one side of the area certain unwales.

knitted portions of yarn are provided beyond the loops thereof at that side. In the piece of fabric shown, the body yarn 88 (which may-be similar to the yarn 88) is knitted to form courses 88-51 and wales 288-288. A warp yarn 58 (which may be similar to the yarn 45) is arranged in and above courses 88-52 similarly to the way the yarn l5 is arranged in and above courses l-h plifled, the undulations are only one wale in width.

In Flg.'9 there is shown a form of fabric wherein a body yarn 88 Y(which may be-blue ground yarn) is knitted thruout the fabric, except that occasionally, as hereinafter pointed ont, a loop of an additional yarn is knitted in except that in those courses where the righthand 1oop is disposed to the left of a right-hand place of a loop of the yarn 88. A supplemental ground yarn 8| extends coursewise and iscaught loop lin the course next above it, the yarn extends v from the latter loop downwardly and to the right across the wale at the right of the latter loop, where it is caught under the sinker loops at both sides of this wale and is thereafter caught at the sinker loops at both sides of alternate wales, if any, to the left until it reaches the wale to the right of the Wale wherein it is knitted, where it is caught under the sinker loop to the right of this Wale. For example in course 5|, the yarn 51, after extending downwardly and to the right from the loop between courses 49 and 58 in .wale 281, is caught under the sinker loops at each side of wale 288 and then under the sinker loops at :both sides of each of wales 288 and 288,.and

then under the sinker loop at the right of wale 282-, being thereupon knitted in wale 28| between course 58 and 5|. In and above courses 88 and 51, the yarn 58 is arranged similarly to the manner in which the yarn I5 is arrangedin and above courses d and e, except that the yarn coming down and to the right from the loop between courses 55 and 58 extends under the sinker loop at the right of wale 284 in course 58, and then upwardly under the sinker loop at the left thereof. Between thecourses 5| and 55, the yarn 58 is carried on the front of the fabric, as indicated at 58a, where it will 'leave the design effect on the rear of the fabric substantially unconnected, but where it may connect the designs on the front of the fabric, or, if it is to be eliminated, willbe in'position for ready removal when the fabric is finished for use in a usual manner.

As abov'e indicated, the invention, in certain of its aspects, contemplates the provision of various types of fabric wherein both the advance and return extents of an auxiliary yarn are laid into lthe same course of knitted yarn. A form of fabric of this character, which is generally similar to the fabric of Figs, 4 and 5, except that the auxiliary yarn is not knitted, is shown in the process of formation in Fig. 6, and is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 7, a portion thereof being illustrated in greater detail in Fig. 8. As

- will be seen from these figures, the pieceof fabric exemplified comprises a body yarn 58 knitted in the Jersey fashion to form courses including courses 68, 5l, 82, and 53, and wales including quently having contiguous portions caught under the sinker loops at the sides of different needle Similarly, in a succeeding course 88 of the knitted body yarnv58, an advance extent 81 and a return extent 88 of the auxiliary yarn 84 is laid into the fabric. From 'the extent 85, the

Y auxiliary yarn extends at the front of the fabric past one ormore courses. such asv the courses 88 and 8|. `In the particular arrangement exeminto the fabric at spaced -wales (alternate wales in the present instance) between a loop in one row and a loop in an adjacent row to provide a modified jersey fabric. As exemplified, the yarn 8| (which may be white yarn) is caught under the sinker loops at each side of each of wales 58|, 588, etc., and is carried entirely at the ingof the gure; andextendsattherearofthe fabric diagonally downwardly to the right to a point 82h where it is formed into a loop in place of a loop of the yarn 88 in wale 588 of course |15; thence at the rear of the fabric again downwardly to the right to a point 82c'where it forms a. loop in place' of a loop of the yarn 88 in wale 585 of course |11; thence at the rear of the fabric downwardly to the left to form e loop 82d in place of the loop of the yarn 88 in wale 582 of course |82; and thence at the rear'of the fabric downwardly'to the right to a further point (not shown) where it is caught into the fabric.

Another additional yarn 83 (which may also beheavy red yarn, altho it may be yarn of still another character, if desired) extendsA at the front of the fabric downwardly from an upper point (not shown), wherein it is caught into the fabric, to a point 88a wherein it forms a loop replacing the loop of the body yarn n m wals 581 of course |12; thence at the rear of the fabric laterally and somewhat downwardly, in the present instance, to `a point 88h wherein it forms a loop in Wale 5|| of course |18; thence at the front of the fabric downwardly to a point 88e where it forms a loop in wale 5|| of course |88;

thence laterally and somewhat downwardly at the rear of the fabric, in the present instance, to

a point where it forms a loop in wale 588 of course |885 and thence downwardly at the front of the fabric to a lower point (not shown) where lt is again caught into the fabric.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a form of fabric wherein the only ground yarn is the body yarn 88 (whichmaybesimilartotheyarnofFg.

9) which is knitted thrnout the fabric exceptthat occasionally, as hereinafter pointed out, a loop of additional yarn is knitted in place of a loop of the yarn 88. The yarn 88 is knitted to form -wales 5|2'thru 528 and courses |88 thru 288. The additional yarn 8| (a warp yarn which` maybesimilar totheyarn 88 oflg. 9) extendsat the front of the fabric downwardly from anVv ward and rearward lparts of the conformation of said additional yarn providing substantially coursewise extents of additional yarn caught into green yarn) appears in Fig. 10.; It extends vertically at the front of the fabric thru course |92, where it is knitted in Wale SI5. It then extends to the right in an undulating -manner being caught under the sinker loops at each side of wale 52|. It then extends vertically downward at the front of the fabric between wales 522 and 523, and is knitted'in course |94 in wale 523.

It then extends vertically 'downward in the frontV of the fabric to course 200 where it is again knitted in wale 523. It then extends at the rear of the fabric past wales 522 and 52|, and thence runs vertically downward to course 203 where it is knitted in Wale 520. l r

Since certain changes maybe made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a 'limiting sense.

the fabric in said portion without knitting, and a plurality of such extentsbeing caught into the fabric in each of a plurality of said courses.

4. A knitted fabric comprising body yarn knitted to form a multiplicity of Courses and walesfand additional yarn extending back and forth across a limited number of said' wales in 4a portion of said fabric,a number of the forward and rearward parts of the conformation of said additional yarn providing substantially coursewise extents of additional yarn caught into the fabric in said portion without knitting, and a plurality of such extents being caught into the fabric in each of a plurality of adjacent ones of` said courses. I Y

-5. A knitted fabric comprising body yarn knitted to form a multiplicity of courses and wales, and additional yarn extending back-andforth across a limited number of said wales ina portion of said fabric, a number of the forward v and rearward parts of the conformation of said kadditional yarn providing substantially course- -wise extents of additional yarn caught into the i fabric in said portion,and said additional yarn It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the knitted to form a mmtipuciny or courses andA invention which vas a matter ofl language might f be said to fall therebetween.

l I claim:

l. A knitted fabric comprising a multiplicity of courses of knitted yarn, and other yarn extending back-and-forth in a portion ofthe fabric lto provide a plurality of forward and return conformations, each of a plurality of said conformations being laid into the fabric in a single course.

2. A knitted fabric comprising*- body yarn knitted to form a multiplicity of courses and wales, and additional yarn extending backandforth across a. limited number of said fwales in a portion of said fabric, a number of the forwardl being also knitted into said fabric at' certain pointsthruout its back-and-forth conformation in said portion, and a plurality of such extents being caught into the fabric .in one of said courses.

6. A knitted fabric comprising body yarn wales, and additional yarn extending back-andforth across a limited number of said wales in a portion of said fabric, a number of the forward and rearward parts of the conformation of said additional yarn providing substantially coursewise extents of additional yarn caught into the fabric in said portion, and said additional and rearward parts ol.' the conformation of said f additional yarn providing substantially coursewise extents of additional yarn caughtinto the fabric in said portion without knitting, and a -plurality of such extents being caught into the fabric in one of said courses.

3. A knitted fabric comprising body yarn knitted to form a multiplicity of courses and wales, and additional yarn extending back and forth across a limited number of said wales in a portion of said fabric, a number of the foryarn .being also knitted into said fabric at pointsapproximately where said conformation changes direction, and a plurality of said extents being caught into the fabric in at least one of said courses.

'7. A knitted fabric comprising bodyyarn knitted to form a multiplicity of courses and wales, and additional yarn extending back-andforth across a limited number of said wales in a portion of said fabric, a number of the forward and rearward parts of the conformation of said additional yarn providing substantiallycoursewise extents of additional yarn caught into the fabric in said portion, and said additional yarnV being also knitted into said fabric at certain points thruout its back-and-forth conformation in said portion, and a plurality of said extents being caught into the fabric inI each of a plurality of said courses.

' VINCENTLOMBARDI.. 

